Week 7: Neuroscience + Art

As Picasso once said:  'Art washes away from the soul the dirt of everyday life', art has long been considered as a method for people to express themselves and relieve stress from their daily life. Indeed, recent studies in cognitive research have shown that art, both the creation or the appreciation of work, can significantly improve the brain's functionality.

The study, 'How Art Changes Your Brain', focuses on understanding the effects of visual art at a neural level. Participants are divided into two groups: the visual art production group actively produce art in an art class while the cognitive art evaluation group asses artworks at a museum. The paper explains how those producing art showed greater spatial improvement in functional connectivity as well as greater psychological resilience than the others. Although many people have stood by the relaxing effect that art creation supposedly brings, this finding provides concrete proof regarding the neurological effect of art and begs the question: if art had such a significant effect on the brain, what would be the brain's influence on the perception of art?

Neuroesthetics, the study of neural bases for the contemplation and creation of art, is a field devoted to understnad the aesthetic perception of art at the neurological level. Since primitive visual stimuli like lines prompts the repeated activation of neutrons and result in the viewers' aesthetic enjoyment, understanding the working of the brain can not only explain why some artworks are more appealing to the audience but also how they look the way they do.

A classic example explained through neuroesthetics is 'Mona Lisa' by Leonardo Da Vinci. Through focusing on different areas of the painting, the expression on Mona Lisa's face seems to change. Since there is a discrepancy in our peripheral and central vision system, Mona Lisa's smile appear to extend as our focus move from Mona Lisa's mouth to eyes. This is because the shadows from her cheek is considered part of the smile by the peripheral system and affect the image processed by the brain.

Mona Lisa

Simulation of the perception of Mona Lisa when viewed in the peripheral vision, on the left and middle, and straight-on.

It is very interesting to understand the effects the brain and art have on one another. I believe as the field of neuroesthetics develop, it will only help foster the development in art by finding new ways to appeal to the brain.

Research in neuroesthetics shows that blurry images connect more directly with emotional centers of the brain, adding emotional appeal with the blurriness of the face.

Citations 

Alban, Deane. "The Mental Health Benefits of Art Are for Everyone." Be Brain Fit. Be Brain Fit, 21 Oct. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

Bergado, Gabe. "Science Shows Art Can Do Incredible Things for Your Mind and Body." Mic. Mic, 15 Dec. 2014. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. 

Bolwerk, Anne, Jessica Mack-Andrick, Frieder R. Lang, Arnd Dörfler, and Christian Maihöfner. "How Art Changes Your Brain: Differential Effects of Visual Art Production and Cognitive Art Evaluation on Functional Brain Connectivity." PLoS ONE 9.7 (2014): n. pag. Web.

Brooks, Katherine. "Study Says Making Art Is Good For Your Brain, And We Say You Should Listen." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 08 July 2014. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

Clow, Angela, and Cathrine Fladhoi. "Normalisation of Salivary Cortisol Levels and Self-report Stress by a Brief Lunchtime Visit to an Art Gallery by London City Workers." WestminsterResearch. University of Westminster, 2006. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. 

"Imagerie Très Haute Defintion :: Le Joconde." Centre for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France. Centre for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France, 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

Landau, Elizabeth. "What the Brain Draws From: Art and Neuroscience." CNN. Cable News Network, 15 Sept. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. 

Mallonee, Laura C. "Study Finds Making Art May Keep Our Brains Healthy." Hyperallergic RSS. Hyperallergic RSS, 07 July 2014. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.